Sentry Investment Management LLC Sells 98 Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Sentry Investment Management LLC lowered its position in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) by 14.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 604 shares of the company’s stock after selling 98 shares during the period. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $133,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in Constellation Brands by 887.5% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 158 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Institutional investors own 77.34% of the company’s stock.

Constellation Brands Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:STZ opened at $178.22 on Thursday. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 1 year low of $160.46 and a 1 year high of $274.87. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $191.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $224.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.21 billion, a PE ratio of 47.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.46.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 10th. The company reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.08). Constellation Brands had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The business had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.19 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.5 EPS for the current year.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $1.01 per share. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio is presently 108.60%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director William T. Giles purchased 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $186.39 per share, with a total value of $186,390.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 1,463 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $272,688.57. The trade was a 215.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $295.00 to $275.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, November 25th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $261.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating and set a $201.00 price objective (down previously from $310.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, January 13th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $265.00 to $223.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Argus downgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $254.29.

Constellation Brands Company Profile

Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Familiar, Corona Hard Seltzer, Corona Light, Corona Non-Alcoholic, Corona Premier, Corona Refresca, Modelo Especial, Modelo Chelada, Modelo Negra, Modelo Oro, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.